Department
for Communities and Local Government
Department
for Communities and Local Government |
| 1.1 |
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will succeed the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect. The Secretary of State for the new department is Ruth Kelly, previously Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Skills. She takes on the roles previously undertaken by the Deputy Prime Minister and David Miliband who has become Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. |
| 1.2 |
Jim Fitzpatrick – the minister for the fire and rescue service - has also moved to a new post in the Department of Trade and Industry, although he has retained his role as Minister for London. Angela Smith, formerly of the Northern Ireland Office has taken Jim’s place and will take on the fire brief. Angela is MP for Basildon and East Thurrock and was first elected to parliament in 1997. She was previously spokesperson for Essex Fire and Rescue Service whilst a councillor for Essex County Council. |
| 1.3 |
The remaining ministerial team from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minster retain their positions in the new department although their roles are yet to be defined. Joining them will be Meg Munn, formerly with the Department of Trade and Industry, who retains her existing responsibility for the equality agenda. |
| 1.4 |
The new department will build upon the important work that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already undertaken. Its additional responsibilities for race, women, faith, community cohesion and equality place the department in an even stronger position to deliver sustainable communities. The fire and rescue service already contributes to these agenda and will continue to have an important role to play. |
| 1.5 |
For the Fire and Resilience Directorate, it will be business as usual and we will continue to deliver on our existing priorities of reducing fire deaths and arson; building resilience; developing capacity for response and recovery at a local level; and planning for a changing environment and population. |
| 1.6 |
We will update you further on future developments once ministerial responsibilities are more clearly defined. |
Alun Evans Director of Fire and Resilience
